A Blessing, a Good News Quiz, & a Hungry Beaver

And Okay, Yes, a Body

I was in a thrift store the other day when I saw a man wearing a marvelous hat. The man was tall and weathered and missing some teeth, and his hat was lavender, with ear flaps and braids hanging down on either side. Very Portland. (You can wear anything you want here). He was wearing this hat with such aplomb and obvious joy that I said, “Nice hat,” and then, realizing that it also had two fluffy ears, added, “Oh, it's an animal.” That was all it took.

The man stopped and talked to me about animals, especially the ones in The Lion King, and how climate change was impacting them. He told me he was paranoid about climate change, and had good reason to be, and showed me his Inter-Tribal firefighters card. He told me to beware of the government. He sang several funny Hank Williams songs. Every time it seemed like he’d wrapped up, he'd bless me: “Peace and grace and love be with you and your people.” And then he'd turn around and tell another story and bless me again.

The very last thing he said to me was at the self-checkout stand where, yes, the employees were keeping an eye on him. He noticed them watching and laughed. “I am prone to misbehavior,” he said. “I can't help it. Everybody in the neighborhood closes their garage doors when I walk by.” And then he laughed again and blessed me one last time.

I guess I'm writing this because I want to say that I love people. I love hearing their stories. I love the joy they get from telling them. But mostly, I’m writing this because I want to pass on the blessing.

Peace and love and grace be with you and your people.

A Good News Quiz

Every year, an Aussie group called Fix the News puts out a list of “all the global stories of progress you didn't hear about in the news.” (They also have a newsletter I can’t recommend highly enough). So which one of these events did not occur in 2024?

A. A trial of a new HIV drug reduced infections to zero.

B. Deforestation in the Amazon halved in two years.

C. The U.S. saw the largest ever recorded drop in overdose deaths.

D. China protected the entire Tibetan plateau, an area larger than all of Western Europe.

E. Thailand and Greece legalized same-sex marriage.

(answers to the quiz at the bottom of the newsletter)

Best Places to Hide the Body

At the Speakeasy!

Anthony Petchel knew that speakeasies like The Bible Club had a reputation for being secretive, but he thought they’d be hiding booze, not bodies…

Random Stuff That Makes Me Laugh

Thanks to Bruce Cantwell for introducing me to this cabbage-fancying beaver (and this headline)!

Want More Silly Stuff to Read?

Check out the Agatha-nominated Ivy Meadows mysteries! Originally published by Henery Press, the first four titles in the series are again available:

And all of the titles are on sale now at Smashwords.

Quiz Answer:

Which event did not occur in 2024?

Answer: D. China protected the entire Tibetan plateau, an area larger than all of Western Europe. That was in 2023.